Keeper's progressing, Heaton

12th March 2019, 09:56 by Nick Harris

Tom Heaton says the introduction to the Premier League of some of the top stoppers has taken the art of goalkeeping to a new level.

There is now a tendency for clubs to employ keepers who can play the ball out of their areas like a sweeper, with the introduction of the likes of Alisson at Liverpool alongside the likes of Manchester City’s Ederson, Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris and Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The 32-year-old Heaton, who has fought his way back into the first team at Burnley and is hoping for a return to the England set up on Wednesday, says goalkeeping has taken on a new dimension but the basics remain the same.

He told the Burnley Express: “There’s definitely an evolution in goalkeeping, certainly to a degree with the style of play and how they play with the possession based teams.

“I think he’s gone in there and done it really well, it’s certainly moving things on and we’re all trying to adapt and add that in to our game.

“Goalkeeping, for me, is still all about keeping the ball out of the net but that’s a positive barrier that’s been pushed up - playing with the feet."

This article originated on sportinastorm.com

Nick Harris is a long-standing journalist who specialises in football and rugby league. An avid golfer, Nick also follows the major boxing fights closely.